Local churches teaming with local centres to help those in need

One would only have to look on the streets on any given evening to realize that Leamington — like other communities across the world — has a homelessness problem.

And while steps are being taken to alleviate the housing crisis that has descended upon North America, the immediate need for so many families is evident on a daily basis.

That’s where the Leamington area churches and faith-based organizations come in.

For the past four-plus years, they’ve all been collaborating to bring the homelessness issue in Leamington to the forefront, and with the involvement of local and regional governments, they feel they are making progress.

With the opening of the Essex County Homelessness Hub and the Leamington Community Hope Centre — both in 2023 — the load has been somewhat lifted, allowing the churches to concentrate on providing pantries, meals and other necessities.

In all, 11 local churches and organizations collaborate regularly on free community meals and other services that help those experiencing homelessness or anyone needing a leg up with food or clothing.

The Community Meals and Pantries committee is part of a larger organization known as THRIVE.

Monday evenings from 4:00 to 5:00 pm at the United Church, they provide 112 takeout meals and according to officials there, they sell out each week.

St. John’s Anglican Church puts out about 250 takeout meals each week to those in need on Wednesdays from 4:00 to 5:00 pm.

The Community Hope Centre offers a warm meal every night from 5 pm until 10 pm, as well as a place to rest, warm up and seek help with different issues.

During the daytime, those people can make their way to the Essex County Homelessness Hub on Talbot Street East (SECC building) for help getting into programs, snacks and a place to rest.

Food banks and pantries are available at St. Vincent de Paul (out of St. Michael’s Parish), St. John’s Anglican, Salvation Army Leamington and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, with smaller pantries available at Parkdale Store and Service, Marlborough/Erie Neighbourhood Pantry and the Angel Pantry at St. John’s Anglican.

In addition, St. John’s Anglican and St. Paul’s Lutheran also have clothing available through their Community Clothing Cupboard and Warming Cross.

The Bridge Youth Resource Centre in Leamington also has a pretty steady flow of youth requiring services, according to their Manager of Operations Greg Wiens. They are currently seeing about 10 youths per week, providing them with three days’ worth of food to take home and heat up. The youth they have on-site at any given time fluctuates on most weeks.

The group came together last week to discuss the current status of people experiencing homelessness in the area, with attendance from area churches as well as a couple of regional government agencies.

As a group, they’re thankful that the Municipality of Leamington and the County of Essex have both embraced their work and opened doors and lifted barriers for them.

“Mayor (and Warden) Hilda MacDonald has been such an advocate,” says Rev. Sylvia Swiatoschik of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on Oak Street. “She used her clout to make a way for us.”

Rev. Swiatoschik is referring to the mayor’s work in helping get the homelessness situation in Leamington on the radar of the provincial government.

Prior to that, the bulk of homelessness help funds went to the City of Windsor, which has long been this area’s homelessness hub.

The numbers are staggering when the churches meet every quarter to report on the progress they are making in the community.

St. John’s Anglican Church fed 9,598 people in 2023, which is up about 2,500 meals over 2022. That’s with holding their weekly Wednesday meal and delivering 20 to the Homeless Hub and 25 more to the former Leamington Lodge. They have been working closely with North Leamington Mennonite Church to make sure all bases are covered.

Overall, the group is seeing an uptick in the number of seniors who are accessing their services, citing the housing crisis and the rising cost of living as two of the main reasons for the increase.

Deacon John Vezina of St. Michael’s Parish says that St. Vincent de Paul is servicing about 50 families a week at their food pantry and half of them are primarily Spanish speaking, which is yet another hurdle to get past.

“The Spanish-speaking families are coming here with a promise of work from some recruiters who leave them high and dry,” says Vezina. “We’re seeing more of that and those recruiters don’t care. They are slippery characters.”

This leaves the churches holding the bag — so to speak — when these undocumented people need a roof over their heads and food in their bellies.

The common theme among the group is their gratitude for their volunteers, many of whom forego their own family activities to help out with the church or organization of their choice. Some even volunteer for more than one organization.

They say it takes a village, and in this case, it takes an entire community. The work being done by this local group is making a difference. It’s not without its challenges, but it is a worthwhile cause that is being addressed by some of the most ambitious people in the region.

To donate funds, clothing, food or to volunteer, reach out to your local church, where they can steer you in the right direction.